Ludlow hasn't had much luck against Hampshire Regional recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Lions will take on the Raiders at 5:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Ludlow blew West Springfield out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Friday West Springfield got their revenge. The Lions fell just short of the Terriers by a score of 12-10. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Lions have suffered since May 7, 2024.
Emily Pereira was cooking despite her team's loss, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with two RBI and one run. Those RBI were her first of the season. Kylie Roach was another key player, going 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Hampshire Regional put another one in the bag on Thursday to keep their perfect season alive. They never let Douglas get on the board and left with a 17-0 victory. The Raiders might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three games by ten runs or more this season.
Ryanne Dubay1 made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
In other batting news, Hampshire Regional let Teagan Charles and Caelyn Thayor run wild. Charles got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and three RBI, while Thayor went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. Another player making a difference was Kalin Dubay4, who went 3-for-4 with four runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Hampshire Regional always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .568. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive matchups.
Hampshire Regional's win was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 7-0. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.6 runs over those games. As for Ludlow, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Ludlow has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Hampshire Regional struggles in that department as they've been averaging 11.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Ludlow suffered a grim 21-0 defeat to Hampshire Regional when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Lions avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
